NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III airs this Saturday, August 19, live on WWE Network. NXT’s latest live special features NXT Champion Bobby Roode defending against Drew McIntyre, as well as NXT Women’s Champion Asuka versus Ember Moon, and the NXT Tag Team Champions the Authors Of Pain being challenged by SAnitY.
Here’s the complete NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III card as we know it.
NXT TakeOver Chicago card:
1. NXT Championship Match: Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
2. NXT Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs.Ember Moon
3. NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Authors Of Pain (c) vs. SAnitY
4. Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami
5. Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
As always, we’ll be here on Saturday night with an open discussion thread, live results and reactions to the show. And, also as always, here’s what we think will happen, and what you need to know. Make sure to let us know who you think will win and why in our comments section below.
Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien”Almas
What You Need To Know: Up until recently, Johnny Gargano was half of one of NXT’s most popular tag teams, #DIY — then his tag partner Tommaso Ciampa up and barbershop windowed him at TakeOver: Chicago a few months back, leaving him left for dead after using using Gargano’s head as a hammer and various parts of the TakeOver set as nails. Now, Gargano has a revamped entrance theme and is looking to make waves as a singles competitor, but there’s one problem, and his name is Andrade “Cien” Almas. The Mexican superstar has been on a significant losing streak for the past few months thanks to his party-boy lifestyle, but a mysterious woman from his past named Zelina Vega has arrived in NXT and is attempting to instill new fire in him, starting with challenging Gargano on Almas’ behalf.
What Should Happen: Tough call. Gargano needs a win to kick his singles career off, and Almas needs a win to make his character even remotely relevant again, because as it stands, glaciers have more heat. I think Johnny Wrestling will sneak out a victory with a roll-up or flash pin, and Almas will completely lose his sh*t and Ciampa the hell out of the dude (yes, I’m using Ciampa as a verb), setting up a longer feud with a bigger payoff for Gargano down the road.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock — Johnny Gargano doesn’t need this win, and he’s really in a holding pattern until Ciampa comes back and we finally end that wonderful, tragic story. I’ll say that Almas gets a victory thanks in part to his Tía keeping him focused, and we all get a real big kick out of Adam Cole appearing in the crowd. (Sure, the Cole thing will happen before the main event, but my point stands.)
Brandon Stroud — Is Ciampa better yet? If not, is he well enough to hop over the rail in a hoodie and murder Gargano with a chair? Because NXT Gargano is great, but he’s also just bait for a Psycho Killer.
LaToya Ferguson — Ah, the dilemma. Johnny Wrestling needs to win this match to truly start his new chapter of self-discovery and not being a coward who threw himself into an LED display. Cien, um, Tranquilo on the other hand needs this win to prove that he can actually win when it counts. Let’s give it to Mr. Tranquilo with some nefarious tactics.
John Canton — Both guys could use a W, but I feel like Gargano needs it more to get him some momentum as a singles wrestler. The fans love him and he’s one of the best faces in NXT. Get back soon, Ciampa. I’m ready for Gargano vs. Ciampa in 2018.
Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami
What You Need To Know: One of NXT’s first big indie-guy signings way back in 2014, Japanese superstar Hideo Itami returned from a lengthy stay on the injured reserve earlier this year with renewed focus (and some new surgical scars on his body). He unsuccessfully challenged for the NXT Championship at TakeOver: Chicago, and since then has explored the nastier corners of his personality, actively blaming others for his shortcomings and openly complaining about lack of respect. Unfortunately for him, he complained to the wrong guy in Aleister Black, the tattoo-covered wrestling monk who is possibly/probably/definitely a member of the occult, and is currently undefeated. A swift kick to the face ensued, and now the two will square off for the first time ever in what is sure to be an extremely physical affair.
What Should Happen: Two guys who barely speak should let their limbs do the talking and make the crowd wince with every flurry of kicks and strikes. This 100 percent has every chance to steal the show, as Aleister Black’s matches have been getting longer and more complex, preparing him for this contest (which will surely have the most eyeballs on him in his nascent WWE career to date). Given how little character development they’ve actually given Black thus far, I truly wouldn’t be surprised if he gets upstreamed to Raw or Smackdown much sooner than later — in which case, why have him lose and get embroiled in a feud? Keep him dominant, call him up and have him go after Finn Bálor or something. Sorry, Hideo, but you’re gonna be staring at the lights on Saturday night.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock — Holy lord is this ever an upgrade from Itami vs. Kassius Ohno. No one needs a win more than Itami, but I don’t think he’s the guy to hand Black his first loss. I reserve the right to hedge by saying Itami could very much cheat to win here, and that might be really awesome.
Brandon Stroud — This should be the match of the night. It’d dull Black’s mystique a little, but I think Itami needs the win more. He’s finally, finally started putting health and momentum together, and for a guy who came in at the same time as Finn Bálor and watched Shinsuke Nakamura leapfrog him on the way to not only the NXT Championship but a WWE Championship match at SummerSlam, he’s fighting for his career. At least that’s how it feels. Black can take a hard-fought loss and be fine. If Itami loses, he’s gonna feel like damaged goods, and he should never, ever feel that way again.
LaToya Ferguson — Unlike the Big Show/Big Cass BIG ASS extravaganza at SummerSlam, I’m pretty sure we all win here.
John Canton — I’ve enjoyed Itami’s heel run. It was totally necessary for him to grow as a performer. Black feels like another guy that could rise to the main event level with a few more wins. The development of Black is important for NXT in the long term, so he’s my pick to win.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Authors Of Pain (c) vs. SAnitY
What You Need To Know: The Authors Of Pain, Akam and Rezar, have been NXT Tag Team Champions for seven months, crushing everyone in their path while under the tutelage of Paul Ellering. These monstrous men have never truly had their championship reign threatened, until the post-apocalyptic nomads known as SAnitY set their sights on AOP. Chaos has been the order of the day since then, and SAnitY’s Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe are ready to rip up the Authors’ book of dominance and begin penning their own (that is, assuming they even know how to write — you can’t be too sure what basic life skills were taught in the Thunderdome).
What Should Happen: SAnitY should win. Period. Full stop. The end. They’ve been on the losing end of nearly all of their feuds, and they’re quickly approaching Wyatt Family levels of irrelevance. The quickest fix to that is to give them some gold and let them take on all comers. Maybe the team invokes the Freebird rule and Eric Young gets involved to help keep the tag straps with SAnitY. Maybe Nikki Cross sets her sights on the NXT Women’s Champion again (whoever that may be at the end of the night). But this team is dead in the water if they can’t dethrone AOP, so dethrone them they must.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock — It would be pretty dang anticlimactic for the Authors to lose to SAnitY of all people after so little buildup, and at least one title needs to not change hands on this show, so sorry SAnitY; I love you, but it’s not your time.
Brandon Stroud — The Authors roll. NXT went through a real renaissance with tag teams there for a minute, but they’re back to the Ascension problem: one dominant team that just beats everyone, and nobody really (kayfabe) on their level to knock them down. The Revival’s gone and hurt, American Alpha got dismantled, and DIY broke up. What, are the Street Profits challenging next? Velveteen Dream and Lio Rush?
LaToya Ferguson — I think SAnitY needs to win to officially start their “dominance” in NXT. I mean, come on, guys — beating Tye Dillinger a hundred times in a row was good for your chaotic morale, I’m sure, but it’s not like that was the ultimate proof of badassery. The damn numbers game should come into play here and give SAnitY the title win. They ripped up and ate the Book of Pain. That means they win.
John Canton — I have low expectations for this match. I like SAnitY a lot and feel like they’re a polished act that would do well on the main roster any time. Keep the gold on Authors of Pain for now and hopefully TM-61 can be back in action soon as the next challengers.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs.Ember Moon
What You Need To Know: Asuka is the longest-reigning champion in the WWE’s modern era of either gender, currently holding the NXT Women’s Championship for (as of this writing) 502 days and counting. She’s mowed through everyone put in front of her — but the only opponent she’s had to resort to dirty tactics to eke out a win was Ember Moon, who was cheated out of a potential victory at TakeOver: Orlando in April and then was knocked out of TakeOver: Chicago’s Fatal Four-Way for the NXT Women’s Championship entirely when Asuka jumped her from behind mid-match a few weeks prior. She might not admit it, but the Empress Of Tomorrow is sweating the War Goddess — and while the entire United States is about to experience a full solar eclipse on August 21, Ember Moon is hoping to start her Eclipse a few days early in Brooklyn.
What Should Happen: Man, I’ve gone back and forth on this for weeks in my mind, and I think NXT creative has probably been debating it for even longer. On one hand, there’s that AdWeek profile that may have mistakenly announced a new women’s champion, perhaps meaning Asuka retains, gets called up and forfeits the title to the eventual winner of the Mae Young Classic. On the other, if Asuka were to get called up undefeated, it totally nukes any credibility Ember Moon could ever hope to have, as she would have fallen short on multiple occasions. The smart move is to end Asuka’s undefeated streak and her title reign at the same time, with Ember Moon serving as the woman who slayed the Empress and took the throne. I’m not 100 percent confident the Brooklyn crowd is going to embrace Ember warmly when she pins Asuka, but that’s for NXT creative to worry about, not me.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock — It’s basically 50/50 that Asuka will retain and vacate the title because she has nothing else to prove, or finally face the music in her own personal Monster at the End of this Book. I happen to believe Ember finally wins, either on her own merits, or because Asuka gets desperate and her chicanery leaves her hoisted by her own petard. Either way, War Asuka forever.
Brandon Stroud — NOBODY IS READY FOR ASUKA. Ember Moon is the jam, ignoring the out-of-place character and the disconnect between the badass she’s supposed to be and the gum-chewing babyface she actually ends up being, so if this is the end of Asuka’s storied NXT title run, so be it. Frankly though, I’d like to see Asuka pull a Paige, bow out of NXT while she’s still the champion, remain undefeated and end up on Smackdown. That division desperately needs heels that can work, and Asuka vs. Becky, Asuka vs. Charlotte, Asuka vs. Naomi, etc. are things we need to see.
LaToya Ferguson — Ember Moon is still… something on the mic, but since returning from her injury, all I’ve been able to say in her wrestling matches is, “Oh yeah, that’s why I love her.” This match is going to be great no matter what, but let Ember Moon fulfill the promise of being “ready for Asuka.” Then let her go full werewolf (since Baron Corbin never will) and she’ll never have to speak again. She can howl though, of course. Because duh.
John Canton — Tough match to call because Asuka’s undefeated streak has been incredible. It has to end at some point, right? Two years in NXT is great. Going up to the main roster would be pretty cool too. I can see them wanting to keep it on Asuka and have fellow Japanese star Kairi Sane beat her for the title, but I’d rather see Moon get that win. This feels like the starting point to build to Asuka’s NXT exit because really, what else can she do? In order for that to happen they should have Moon win the title here, retain in the rematch and Asuka can head off to the main roster where she’ll have plenty of new rivals ready for her.
NXT Championship Match: Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
What You Need To Know: There’s no two ways around it: 2017 has been the year of Bobby Roode. He won the NXT Championship in January at TakeOver: San Antonio off of Shinsuke Nakamura — no easy feat — then retained it against Nak in April at TakeOver: Orlando (sending him to Smackdown in the process). Since then, Roode’s been on a tear as a Trump-ian blowhard who somehow managed to believe his own hype, catch a few lucky breaks and find himself in NXT’s catbird seat, ruling Full Sail Arena with an iron fist and some well-tailored suits. But a new contender has emerged in former WWE castoff Drew McIntyre, who spent the past few years reinventing himself on the indie circuit and has returned with a new fire in his non-existent belly. This is Drew’s highest-profile match in NXT to date, but he has to worry about a wild card by the name of Roderick Strong. Strong has no match on the TakeOver card and has a sizeable axe to grind against Roode, so it’s entirely possible he pops up during the main event to tip the scales in one competitor’s favor. But to which side? That’s the real question, as Strong is owed another shot at the NXT Championship, but that shot is only good if Roode is still champ. A lot of variables surround the main event of TakeOver: Brooklyn III, so get ready for some fireworks.
What Should Happen: Roode retains. Drew McIntyre hasn’t been back in NXT long enough to really win over the home viewing audience, who would still rather sing along to “Glorious Domination” than boo the man who walks out to it. I foresee Roddy Strong getting himself involved in this match’s finish, either accidentally hitting McIntyre while aiming for Roode or purposely hitting McIntyre, either way keeping the belt right where Strong wants it so he can get a shot at it. The next TakeOver isn’t until November in Houston, and I believe this storyline between all three men will draw itself out until then, when we see a triple threat for the championship.
Staff Picks
Bill Hanstock — Drew McIntyre is going to win here. I mean, come on, he just is. He gets to end the Roode era and become the face of the company, and finally be a champion that NXT audiences can relate to and trust in. And hey, maybe him winning the title will have the added benefit of pushing Roderick Strong over the edge. Everyone wins! Except Roderick Strong. Haha, eat it, Rod.
Brandon Stroud — Part of me really wants to live in a world where two of three members of 3MB are world champions. That said, Bobby Roode is the iconic representation of this era of television, and unless they pull a Fandango with him and rob him of his entrance theme, he’s my pick over most of his challengers. I like Drew Mac fine, but it would be the most Evolve-ass thing in history to have Roode beat Nakamura and then lose to Drew damn Galloway.
LaToya Ferguson — The Roderick Strong of this all just won’t stop screaming in my head that NXT will possibly end TakeOver with a mess of a finish in the form of Roddy beating the crap out of Roode and ending the match in a DQ. Either that, or Roode retains and then Roddy gets him some. I’m a big fan of Drew McIntyre, but based on the story told (and the weird lack of actual heat in the whole “undefeated” aspect of the feud — like, none of you are “Asuka Undefeated” so it’s not that big of a deal), this is Roderick Strong’s championship to win. From Bobby Roode.
John Canton — As soon as McIntyre returned to WWE during WrestleMania weekend I thought he would be the guy that beats Roode for the title. I’m not sure if it’s going to be this match or if they save it for down the road. I’m going to go with it, though, just because I feel like Roode’s reign has gone long enough. Putting the gold on McIntyre would be a big moment at what feels like the biggest NXT event of the year for the third year in a row. This should be an outstanding match. After the match is over, I hope it ends with Adam Cole getting in the ring with McIntyre (have Cole sit in the crowd for the match) to set up the next championship rivalry.
